That door is so tall, that the stack of the first mercury launch could probably be integrated vertically and fit through the door.

Logged

For a variable Isp spacecraft running at constant power and constant acceleration, the mass ratio is linear in delta-v. Δv = ve0(MR-1). Or equivalently: Δv = vef PMF. Also, this is energy-optimal for a fixed delta-v and mass ratio.

Why? Atlas V and Delta IV did. Presumably that customer is going to get a healthy discount.

The customers for the first flight of Ariane V, Delta III, Delta IVH, PSLV, Falcon I, Conestoga, N-1, Europa, Athena 1, Antares 130, SPARK, SS-520-4, Electron, FB-1, CZ-2A, CZ-3, CZ-2E/PKM, CZ-1D, CZ-3B, KT-1, KZ-1T, etc. were not so lucky. Blue Origin should accept some hubris and accept the fact that their first launch will have a high probability of failure and thus should not fly a customers payload.

Surely that's down to the customer? They know it's a first launch. If they want to accept that risk, it's their choice.

Agreed. As someone who's not really the biggest BO fan, this specific issue is a non-issue. The customer knows everything that was states up-thread. If the customer is fine with it, that's all that matters.

Blue Origin has begun the process of moving into its massive rocket factory at Kennedy Space Center's Exploration Park, according to a NASA official's comments during a conference at Port Canaveral this week.

But the factory's proximity to the pad and advances in automation mean teams won't necessarily need a launch control facility on Air Force property – officials expect to use one of the factory's upper-level spaces as a launch control center.

For a variable Isp spacecraft running at constant power and constant acceleration, the mass ratio is linear in delta-v. Δv = ve0(MR-1). Or equivalently: Δv = vef PMF. Also, this is energy-optimal for a fixed delta-v and mass ratio.

Update on Blue Origin-related barge at Port Canaveral: Fire broke out while subcontractor was cutting weld used to secure new propellant tank. CCAFS crews responded. No injuries or damages. Occurred before Blue Origin took delivery of tank.